culture shock

As most of you know my writing is sporadic. Some days I just have more to say then others; today is one of those days..

I haven’t been not talking about something since I’ve been back in the states and I can’t hold it in any more. I’ve been having reverse culture shock. I inherited a television with splendid and started watching the news in the mornings and I just can’t do it any more. The “fear machine” is running full swing. Maybe I’m just not used to it but it really upsets me, perhaps most are just numb to it. I was really offended when I saw Hillary Clinton’s “sleeping” commercial. I felt like “how dare she” pray on my fears and pull the “dangerous world” card to try and get elected. It’s not a dangerous world, it’s beautiful and more people just need to see it. There are bad people and good people everywhere. I’ve only had 3 gun incidences in my life. They all happened within 14 months of each other and took place in Los Angeles.

Speaking of bad people something happened to my sister. She was having a lunar eclipse party at her house in Atlanta. A few of her friends were howling at the moon (before 10pm) and a neighbor called the police. The police knocked on the door and a guest told them they could enter. I spoke to an attorney friend of mine and he said “never invite a police officer into your home without a warrant”. Anyway, a guest let them in and they started harassing her friends. She came in to the room and asked them to leave, they would not! She asked a bit more sternly and one of the officers said “you need to clean up around here bitch”. Well one thing led to another and they ended up tazing her 3 times and breaking her arm above the elbow. It doesn’t take three tazers and a broken arm to restrain my sister on any day, maybe me, but not her. They arrested her, never read her her Miranda rights and ended up just letting her go at the station in the middle of the night with a broken arm. As I said there are bad people everywhere! I’m really sick over this thing. I’m not going to get into politics as I don’t like to preach politics or religion. I believe everyone needs to find their own way and is entitled to their own opinion; it’s what makes us Americans, and that is a beautiful thing. Let’s just not vote out of fear!

Anyway I need to go to see my sister in Atlanta. She is scheduled for surgery mid week and I’d like to spend a few days with her. And yes she is sewing the police department. Her attorney took the case on spec and said it was the worst case of police brutality he had seen.

Splendid and I are bonding. I’ll be getting rid of the television and the microwave. I’m turning the hallway between the main salon and aft cabin into a real shop. I got a real metal tool chest with drawers and I’ll be installing a vise and grinding wheel on my bench. I’ll be working on this boat for many years and organizing my shop is the first step in restoring my beautiful ship. I’m looking for a “Snap on” calendar to make my shop legit ;)

I’m having some compression issues with my computer and the new DVD. I wanted to have the video professionally compressed but I’m having a problem makeing uncompressed quick time files. I think they are just too big. The only downside to me doing my own compression is that the image is compromised but either way it will be sharper then the first DVD. It’s really frustrating when you spend 7 hours of computer time making a file and the system crashes, ARRRRGGGGG!!!!!

I love my boat!

Peace, Love, and Splendid.

– Alex